Top body language expert tells us what was REALLY going on in the heads of the stars of 2016

Sun Online asked top body language expert Dr Ciaran O'Keefe to analyse the photos that captivated the world

BY SAM WEBB

2nd January 2017,12:00 pm

THERE can be no doubt 2016 was an eventful year, with huge upheavals across the world of politics, showbiz and sport.

Photographer’s captured them all, from Trump’s election win to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s shock divorce, giving us a revealing insight into what the wealthy, powerful and famous were thinking in each individual moment.

Sun Online asked top body language expert Dr Ciaran O’Keefe, Head of Psychology at Buckinghamshire New University, to analyse the photos that captivated the world and unravel the messages hidden in their gestures.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in town hall Presidential debate

This is a particularly revealing photo on the part of Donald Trump, because Trump is behind Clinton and we can presume he feels he cannot be seen.

Body language experts frequently commented on the Presidential Debates especially as there were frequent examples of Trump’s grimacing. Without knowing exactly what Trump is thinking we can guess at a look of disdain or analysis.

What we can confidently say is the body language and facial expression reveal a perceived feeling of dominance from Trump.

If Trump were making eye contact with Clinton, this expression would be an obvious establishing of dominance.

The cameras are on, it is their first face-to-face meeting and hand-shakes for politicians are standard fare. Both are standing straight, making eye contact (although maintained eye contact can be power assertion) and being cordial with their positive expressions.

What is particularly revealing, however, is the distance between them. They are fully extending their arms to shake hands and a key indicator of attraction is attempting to close the distance between you and the other person.

Here, there is deliberate attempt to keep a distance.

Ched Evans and Natasha Massey outside court

Evans has taken the foreground position, leading Massey, which is a sign of power. However there is slight hunching forward on his part and a downward gaze with his head tilted slightly forward (which is also an indicator of feeling unpleasant emotions).

These latter points convey a lack of confidence although he is attempting to assert dominance by refraining to smile.

WHAT IS IT?

'WE NEED HELP'

twisted faith

Made to have sex with a dog & eat his own testicle: The man killed by UK cult

RULE THE WORLD

Pregnant Meghan cradles baby bump at Royal Variety after meeting Take That

HOSPITAL SHOOTING

Multiple injuries after gunman opens fire inside Chicago hospital

ON THE GURNEY

Death Row inmate’s chilling last words before execution by lethal injection

Massey, however, has a straight back and strong shoulders and although she is in the background, her posture implies more confidence.

Those in close relationships tend to reduce their own personal space and encourage physical closeness, but there is definite space between the two which is exacerbated by the leading/background positions. There is, however, hand contact which (without seeing more) is an obvious sign of affection.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard before divorce

There is an element of embarrassment and possible anxiety to Amber Heard’s body language. Embarrassment is typically signalled through the aversion of eyes which here is a deliberately and obviously achieved by turning her head away completely.

Her gesture of turning her torso away is a signalling of lack of attraction. The reverse move would be attraction.

That said, some body language experts to say that a female reciprocates attraction by turning her torso away and leaning back.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have an argument

There is no context to what appears to be a heated discussion between the two parties in this relationship, however, it is clear Brad Pitt is attempting to resolve the situation using the classic calming, palm down hand gesture.

If anything, palms turned up is a clear cue of romantic interest and attraction because there’s some argument to it being a sign of openness.

Angelina is emphasising any verbal argument with hand gestures that are intended to focus the listener to her mouth.

All gestures appear around her facial area but also she he looking away. Interestingly, although this analysis is focused on one photograph, I would surmise Brad attempts to touch Angelina frequently (on the arm as he is doing here).

This may come across as a calming expression in an argument but actually, in a relationship where there is imbalance and where one person perceives themselves as being more powerful or in control, they will touch the “lower-status” person more frequently.

This is possibly the case with Brad.

Cheryl and Liam Payne

Whilst Liam’s body language may be interpreted as controlling it actually reveals a more caring, security aspect to this relationship. Liam almost provides a ‘guiding’ role in letting Cheryl know that he is her security and is always there.

Additionally, Cheryl is leading Liam which shows more dominance although the aforementioned physical contact indicates a greater equality in the relationship.

Donald Trump and Kanye West

Both parties are angling towards each other which shows, on the one hand, an aspect of familiarity whilst, on the other, they are moments away from ‘squaring up to each other’ in a show of machismo (i.e. a typical macho ‘chest-to-chest’ stand-off).

The fact they haven’t reached that point shows a lot. In this photo, Kanye is the one who is doing the surveying and this is a clear indicator of asserting power.

Trump is battling with this surveying by showing his dominance in standing straight back and having ‘strong shoulders’ rather than Kanye’s slight lean forward (which may indicate a slight lack of confidence in the presence of the President Elect).

Michael Gove and Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson looks like a naughty schoolboy in this post-Brexit image

The two politicians are expressing different body language and ultimately different thoughts. Boris Johnson has the body language of a public school boy awaiting to hear his punishment from the headmaster.

His tight-lipped expression shows one of concern and intense concentration but also nervousness. Gove, on the other hand, has a more forceful body language with his lip pursing indicating the assertion of dominance.

Johnson is using his ‘hand crossing’ as a means of defence and resistance against a possible oncoming barrage of questions (and as a comforting action).

If he were facing Gove I would argue the resistance and defence would be directed towards him. In this case it is directed outwards to the audience.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368